the democratic national convention officially begins in charlotte tonight where first lady michelle obama will take the stage and try to convince undecided voters that her husband deserves a second term. nbc's tracy potts joins us live there. she has the details from charlotte. tracie, good morning. >> hi, lynn. behind the stage where it all gets started tonight, the stage where we'll see michelle obama, but not where we'll see the president. he'll be a few blocks away at the bank of america before he arrives to make his case here in charlotte. last night president obama told hurricane victims -- >> nobody's a democrat or republican. we're all just americans. >> but not in charlotte this week. heal accept the democratic nomination on thursday i'll offer you what i believe is a better passport. >> tonight we hear from michelle obama. she checked out the stage monday. >> she's going talk about the president she knows, the husband she married, and, of course, the father to her children. >> maryland's govern and san antonio's mayor julian castro also speak tonight. castro is the first latino